Rhode Island Novelty is a national distributor dedicated to making your zoo, aquarium, or resort gift shop a success. The company is a, “one stop shop,” says Jeff Shaughnessy, with everything a gift or souvenir shop would need to create a product lineup perfectly suited to customers.
Author: Publisher
With increasing competition from online stores and the opportunity to participate in the projected $1 trillion online ecommerce market, it is vital for owners of traditional brick-and-mortar stores to expand their digital reach. Small businesses that ignore this trend will quickly lose market share to bigger competitors.
In today’s increasingly digital world, it’s important for online retailers to leverage social media and develop a memorable online “window” shopping experience. One common misconception among retailers is that money can’t be made directly through social platforms, but there is indeed potential for a clear stream of revenue driven by branded, strategic and innovative social media activity.
It’s no secret that in our busy 21st century world, there’s a growing trend toward handcrafted, local, and American made goods. In an era where so much is mass-produced overseas and the latest gadgets come out every six months, people increasingly want to experience more authenticity in what they carry, wear, and bring into their homes. As a retailer, there’s nothing like the reward of supporting small-scale makers, enabling them to follow their passions by connecting them with new customers.
Ask anyone: “Do more knowledgeable, experienced, passionate people create better buying experiences?” The inevitable answer: “Of course!” Successful brands and retailers know that engaged and knowledgeable sales associates are a key part of competing in today’s retail environment.
Candy retailers are discovering that using the Internet to market their wide selection of candies and products in their stores is helping to increase their profits at a rate like never before. Candy retailers have evolved into diverse businesses that sell everything from your classic lollipops to artisanal creations. There are countless media outlets that can be used as a resource and this makes business only sweeter.
Campground stores can be like fishing in a barrel. You have a campground full of people with nowhere else to spend their money so start reeling them in! You may be thinking “there’s a big box store just down the street so there is no use for me to sell anything.”
The October 2014 issue of Independent Retailer Magazine includes a feature on cart & kiosk success, best methods to ring the register this holiday season and an IGES/SSS exhibitor preview. Check out more timely Product Trends, News, and Marketing tips as they are added to our website.
There is a lot of talk these days about switching to virtual, digital and mobile payments. We hear every day about how soon we’ll be paying for holiday shopping sprees with our phones instead of our wallets and plastic gift cards. However, you probably didn’t know that the vast majority of Americans still prefer physical gift cards to electronic ones.
It’s an exciting time to be an online retailer, especially because new third-party marketplaces are cropping up regularly in the evolving e-commerce landscape. The global success of Amazon and eBay has led to an explosion of marketplaces from newer players that provide retailers with opportunities to grow their online sales, both domestically and internationally. While the addition of marketplaces provides more revenue opportunities, it can be a challenge for retailers to determine which options make the most sense for their products.